FERGUS – Wellington OPP have identified six youths allegedly responsible for a spree of graffiti in Fergus over the weekend of Nov. 24 to 26 and are looking for more suspects.
“Police received multiple reports of damages to buildings and municipal signs across town that could exceed $20,000,” media relations constable Joshua Cunningham stated in a Nov. 30 press release.
Randy Ashley, owner of Sparkle Brite Carwash at 655 St. David St. North (Highway 6), said his building was among those tagged along that stretch of road.
“The other day kids wrote on our back wall, at the laundromat, on the vacuums and on the back door,” he told the Advertiser.
He added the washroom at the KFC restaurant next door and the back wall of the LCBO store just up the street were also tagged.
Ashley had security camera footage of a number of youths cutting through the car wash parking lot that he posted on Facebook believing they are the people responsible.
“I got so many replies on Facebook, then I got a call from OPP,” he said, adding that between attempted break-ins, acts of vandalism and graffiti, “I get it non-stop. Almost weekly something happens here.”
Ashley said he believes his business was tagged around 7:30 or 8pm on Friday, “so it’s not even that late at night.
“It’s all minor stuff – nobody died or anything. But it’s frustrating and expensive and you just can’t leave it on the walls. And it makes our town look crappy.”
Ben Marais lives nearby on Parkside Drive West and walks his dog and his daughter to school through the area.
“It seems every day there’s a new one,” he said, adding he regularly sees graffiti on electrical boxes, mailboxes, fire hydrants, garage doors and the walls of businesses.
Marais said while he appreciates graffiti when it’s art and when artists have permission to paint a wall, “this is not art. You don’t express yourself like that.
“Fergus and Elora are such unique, beautiful towns. This is just so sad.”
Cunningham said six youth have entered youth diversionary programs and police continue to look for other suspects.
Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.csgw.tips.
